ProRodeo Sports News - May 31, 2019

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TRACY RENCK

Jesse Pope, a 20-year-old fromWaverly, Kan., is having a strong rookie season. He’s third in the PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings as a bareback rider with $19,318, but he’s only $843 behind leader Garrett Shadbolt. Pope bought his PRCA card in October 2018. Now, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Pope is chasing rookie of the year honors and a bid to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

What has this season been like for you? Jesse: It is going well. I messed up my right elbow a little bit in Kissimmee, Fla., at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo (in the middle of March). I took about two months off, and I’m starting to get back going again. My goals this year are to win rookie of the year and make the NFR. If I execute and win the rookie of the year, I should put myself in position to make the NFR.

JESSE POPE

Are you attending college while competing in the PRCA?

Jesse: Yes. I’m at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. I will be a junior in the fall. I qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo my freshman year, and I will go again in June to the CNFR. It was a really good experience going to the College National Finals the first time. I learned a lot from it, and I’m ready to go back. The plan is to win a national title this year. I’mmajoring in public relations with a minor in business. I’m scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2021. How did you get involved in rodeo? Jesse: I grew up watching bull riding on TV. My mom (Jennifer) and dad (Bret) didn’t rodeo, but they ran cows. There was an older man, George Steinberger, who lived 15 minutes from us, and he put on a bunch of rodeo schools. He had practices every Tuesday night on his bucking machine. We started going over there, and that’s how we got started. I was 6 or 7 years old. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Jesse: I have two younger brothers, Ty, 17, and Judd, 13. They both rodeo and are roughstock riders. When did you think rodeo was a dream you could follow?

Jesse: I started loving it as soon as I started doing it. When I got in third or fourth grade, there was an all- roughstock association down in Oklahoma, and that’s where we would go and compete. That’s how I got started riding bareback horses because I started riding ponies down there. I also rode bulls pretty good, but I quit riding bulls when I was in high school. I also rode saddle bronc horses. I chose bareback (riding) because I was more natural at it. What’s it like for you when you hear the whistle after a good ride? Jesse: You double-grab, get off and go party and hang out with your buddies. What was it like to win the 2018 Permit Members of the Year Challenge in December in Las Vegas? Jesse: That was a really good experience. My dad and brother (Ty) were there with me. I had been out there and watched the permit challenge. I had it set as a goal to win it, and I did. Who are you traveling with this summer?

Jesse: I’m going to be traveling with Tim O’Connell (reigning three-time PRCA bareback riding world champion) and Shane O’Connell (who qualified for the Wrangler NFR in 2018). I have been friends with Tim for a long time. We will all feed off each other, and it is all about helping each other. We are not competing against each other, we are competing against ourselves. What do you do when you’re not rodeoing? Jesse: I cowboy a lot. We run some cows, and I do day work for a bunch of people and ride a bunch of colts. When I’m in school and not rodeoing, I work at a feed lot. What’s your favorite type of restaurant? Jesse: I like going through a little town and finding a café, not a certain one. I’m a sucker for breakfast. I get eggs over easy, hash browns, bacon and toast. What’s your favorite type of dessert? Jesse: Chocolate cream pie. My go-to candy is Peanut M&M’s. What movie can you quote the lines from? Jesse: The Cowboys with John Wayne. I wish I knew how many times I have seen that movie, it is an awful lot. What type of music do you enjoy?

Jesse: If I’m just back home I will listen to old-school country like Merle Haggard. What type of stuff do you do to pass time when you’re going down the road? Jesse: We watch a lot of Netflix. I like watching The Office . What was your favorite Halloween costume? Jesse: I liked being Woody from Toy Story . I was a huge Toy Story fan back in the day. I’m pumped to see Toy Story 4 this summer.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/31/2019

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